The 38 Week Bump

38 Weeks, 1 Day

Remy in the Spring

Ashley took some cute shots of Remy and our backyard, so I thought I'd share.

Seafood Eat Food

Every year in June we host a little party called Seafood Eat Food where we invite our friends and family over for a seafood feast.  Because of the impending arrival of our baby this year, we decided to do a totally scaled down version with a couple friends over the Memorial Day weekend.  We made it a potluck and ate like kings.

Stone Crab steamed in beer.  Denise was a champ at cracking these open!

The spread.

Raspberry rhubarb cobbler a la mode.

One Centimeter Dilated...

...which basically means... nothing.  Ha.  Though I think she's "dropped" a little (I'm feeling more pressure on my pelvic area), the doctor doesn't think labor's going to start anytime soon.  Not that I thought it would either.  Our OB doesn't expect to see any changes for another week to ten days (at least), so we'll just hang tight.  I guess this calls for more napping!

Full Term

I have officially reached the 37 week mark, which is a huge relief for us knowing that baby is considered full-term and that we can start expecting her at any time soon.  It also marks the start of me feeling uncomfortable and awkward.  I feel like I've been pretty fortunate throughout this pregnancy and have only begun to feel the strains, aches and pains.  But already I'm tired of the restless nights, the achey hips, and the feeling of not being fully mobile.  I've come to love my yoga ball which gives me lots of relief and am told it will help move my baby into position.  I'm definitely trying to conserve my energy for the actual birthing process, but I'm happy to report that the nursery is 98% done (with pictures coming soon) and we are mostly packed and ready to go.  The car seat is installed and I feel good about our preparedness (for what we can control, that is).  Now I just have to mentally prepare for the whole birthing a child thing.  I mean, really, it's starting to sink in how much it's going to hurt, and it doesn't help that I'm tired all the time and the thought of 15+ hours of laboring is just much too daunting.  It's such a strange feeling wanting time to pass so we can finally meet our little one, yet trying to enjoy the time we have left as just husband and wife (and pug and pug).  Because once she's here, there really are no refunds, right?  

Counting Down

There hasn't been too much to blog about lately, mostly because we've been starting the waiting game and counting down to baby's arrival.  We're still getting last minute things together (packing hospital bags, filling out forms, finishing up the nursery) and just staying vigilant for labor signs.  I know I still have a little over three weeks until my due date, but it just feels like it will happen so soon.  My weeks consist of doctors' visits and finding the energy to do little things around the house.  We're excited and anxious and can't believe that we'll be meeting our little girl soon!

I get fetal monitoring twice a week.

Love the sound of the baby's heartbeat.  And it's fun to hear her move around.

Adam at the Lake

Adam went up to our cabin to take care of some things before the baby comes.  He took the boat out (first time of the season) and had a great time showing his friend, Christophe, around (who is visiting from Aix En Provence).  We're really looking forward to taking our little one up there this summer.  It's hard to believe we bought the place with aspirations to fill it with lots of family memories, and here we are about to have our first child and making plans to take her up.

Happy Mother's Day!

I love celebrating the amazing women who make this world go round for so many people.  Usually we host a Mother's Day Brunch, but seeing that I have the energy of a snail, I decided to take it easy this year and forego the planning.  We did have a nice little dinner with my parents and family, and I was definitely appreciating the many texts and messages wishing me a happy Mother-to-Be Day!  And our good friend, Louie, even surprised me with a Mother's Day caramel cheesecake.  I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that I'm going to be someone's mom.  I hope I do as good a job as those women before me who have been exemplars of love, compassion, and generosity of spirit.  So cheers to my mom, Adam's mom, my aunt, and the other great women that bless us with your presence in our lives!

We almost missed the photo op and sliced into it because it's screaming to be eaten.  

Peanuts & Cracker Jacks

Adam was given tickets for a suite to watch the Anaheim Angels v. Cleveland Indian games last night, and since my parents have never been to a baseball game (or any sporting event) before, we thought it would be fun to take them.  It was a great night out and we greatly enjoyed the food, the company and watching my parents try to figure out the rules of the game.  (By the 8th inning, they figured out that the pitcher and the batter were on opposing teams.)   As I sat side by side with my mom, munching on popcorn and debating whether or not to have another hot dog, I was reminded exactly where I get my love of snack foods in stadiums from.

Peace Be With You

Adam and I have been having quite a few discussions regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden and its significance in the bigger picture of US politics and the war on terror.  Someone posted this on Facebook and it really resonated with me.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." 

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I keep thinking how hate often begets hate, and how it traps us into a cycle of despair and loss.  No one really wins.  I'm not saying I disagree with the actions the US took to take down Bin Laden, and I have the utmost respect for and gratitude to our military.  I guess I'm just feeling contemplative today, and thinking a lot about how God's purpose for us is to love.  That seems so elementary and broad, but the message of the homily this past Sunday really stuck with me.  It was all about finding peace, showing peace, and maintaining that peace.  Not just peace in the world, but finding our inner peace by being in step with God and staying spiritually close to Him.  I am a control freak and it is a daily battle against anxiety and worry when I don't feel in complete control of my situation.  Needless to say, I felt very convicted that I need to learn to trust in God and His plans, promises and purposes for us.  This commitment to peace can spread like wildfire.  It's positive energy is contagious, and I pray that everyday inspires us to make that commitment within ourselves and to those around us, so that we can build a community of peace that shows love and faithfulness even when there is so much darkness surrounding us.  Gosh, I sound like I'm drinking the coolaid, and maybe it's the pregnancy hormone cocktail that's making me so sentimental, but as we're about to bring a little life into this unstable world, all I want is for her (and our future children) to know the blessings and goodness of life.  

Our baby is evidence that love begets love.  She is given to us because Adam and I made a commitment to love one another for the rest of our lives.  I know, I know.  I'm a sap.  But I rejoice in my cheesiness (since jadedness and cynicism are known to make an appearance every now and then, too).  Anticipating the birth of our first child is such an unique experience that I know we'll never have again.  I choose to embrace the sappy, sentimentality of it and look upon the goodness and innocence of a new life, bundled up in a little baby.  The world may be in constant chaos, but I am grateful for the peace that God promises us every single day.  

34 Weeks 2 Days

I'm so happy to report that everything is continuing to progress well in our pregnancy.  I'm starting to see my OB twice a week now for fetal monitoring and we just had another ultrasound with the perinatologist, who we always enjoy seeing.  We've been informed that her fluid levels are good, her growth is right on target (about 5 lbs. 2 oz.), and that we "really did it right" with our "good-looking" baby (gotta love our perinatologist!).

Her profile.  If you look carefully you can see her little hand by her face.

It's getting harder to get a good picture of her since she's a lot bigger now.  But here's her "serious face."